Just Right: Flex Posture

This is the 2nd fitprime I tried out of the
pack of all 8 dvds I ordered. The
package made it sound like a hybrid
workout of pilates, yoga, strecthing and
light toning moves. It sounded like
something Kari Anderson or Karen
Voight would put out, or like a Method
workout, only easier and more beginner
oriented. I had a headache, and had
already done a ood workout, and just
wanted something gentle and stretchy
to
do to wind down. While this fit the bill
as gentle and stretchy, for the most part
I didn't care for it at all. Its hard to
describe this workout. Its a series of
different yoga poses and strecthes down
at a fairly mild pace. It doesn't have
any pilates to speak of (one or two
moves down for a few reps doesn't seem
like Pilates should be listed on the
label). Anna's packaging says this
workout is a toning workout, but there's
no real toning at all. You may get a
little toning effect from some of the
yoga positions, but not much, and she
states that the workout is good for
bones but there's no exercises that are
known to build bone included. I just
don't think her claims match the
workout. The workout seems to be
targeted for beginners but some of the
positions would be hard for a beginner
and Anna doesn't offer modifications.

Although the music was good, it was to
loud for this type of workout and
obscured Anna's instruction. And it was
too fast so you never move with the
music. Now, Anna's instruction, well,
that takes us to a whole new set of
concerns. I'd always wondered why she
didn't make any videos as the leader for
the Firm. And now I know- she just isn't
that good. She constantly says "push
pull" without explaining what you're
pushing and pulling, she says to keep
your head between the legs biceps when
her head is clearly between her arms.

She tries to explain how to do pelvic
floor contractions but never talks about
how to do them or what it should feel
like- she says to imagine your pelvis is a
basket and to hold the basket. While
more experienced exercisers will
probably get it, this is a beginners tape
and I wondered how many beginners
would
really understand what they were
supposed to do based on that. At
times, she seemed to be having trouble
with the positions herself. Her form had
problems, as she wiggled and shifted
and hitched to try to stay in her poses. I
really wondered if she figured- hey I
can teach yoga, I've taken classes for a
few years- but never went through any
licensure program or specific teaching
coursework. I often felt confused by the
images she tried to use since she didn't
usually match them up with instructing
the move. The image is helpful when
teamed with good form instruction, not
just used on its own, which is how she
used it. Overall, I spent most of the
workout wondering what I was
supposed to be doing (though I figured
it out by watching, but I have done
some yoga) and just saying "WHAT!?!?"
at some of her images and cues.

Overall, this workout does some of good
moments in it, but I'm not sure it'll ever
see light of day in my house again. For
my 40 exercise minutes, I'd much rather
do a tough cardio or weights dvd/tape,
but for those days I want something
easier or different, I'd be far more
inclined to grab Karen Voight, or one of
the yoga or tai chi workouts I have on
hand than this. Anna's strange cues and
occassionally pompous tone put me off
at times, and her frequently smug
expressions annoyed me when she had
a hard time using effective instruction
and had form problems. The packaging
of the fitprimes I've done thus far has
been hands down misleading- in this
case, this is a yoga based stretching/
body awareness workout, not the toning
yoga pilates blend promised on the box.

This is probably best used with another
workout, but at 40 minutes long, it
takes up a lot of precious time. And on
its own, I'm just sure most exercisers
will get want they want for their bodies
out of this. I've also found the
production to be wanting. I don't mind
the sets or anything like that, but I
haven't been try some of my fitprime
workouts since the dvds are flawed and I
have to get them replaced. Given that
these dvds are priced around $25 a
piece, I can't imagine why they couldn't
have ensured that they were transfered
properly. I have 3 damaged dvds in my
8 pack- almost half. And on the collage
forums, there frequently seem to be
posts with someone asking about
replacing a defective fitprime dvd. I'm
hoping I have a better experience when I
try Tracie Long's fitprime workouts,
because as it is right now, I won't
recommend these workouts to anyone
with any sincerity at all. There were a
few nice moments in this workout when
I got a good strecth or into a position
that was relaxing or felt strong, but
most of those moments would then be
interrupted by a bizarre comment from
Anne and the moment was ruined.
There are better ways to spend my 40
minutes.

Instructor Comments:
She's a quirky instructor. She gives
visual image cues but doesn't always put
them together with solid form
instruction. Her own form seems shaky
at times, she did not inspire confidence
as an instructor. Much of the I felt
confused by her cues/instruction. She
seemed fairly warm, though pretentious,
which I guess I expected after reading
her Firm for Life.